An APDH’s Journey – MiQuel McRae

How many times since graduating from hygiene school have you attended your CE courses and heard about the need for greater public oral health programs in Arizona? I hear it at least once every time I attend an Az dental hygiene conference and 2015 was no exception. Our first speaker, Michelle Gross-Panico, started the conference speaking about the disparities in oral health in the rural areas of Arizona, particularly Greenlee County. She was reaching out to us as licensed hygienists to make a difference in our communities.

An APDH’s Journey – Tamara Baca

My journey toward becoming an Affiliated Practice Dental Hygienist (APDH) was based on a desire to improve the oral health of a larger population than that in private practice. Coincidentally, I was new to the concept of what an APDH was, how it could improve my career, and how it was going to move me closer toward my goals of reaching a larger population.

An APDH’s Perspective – Audrey McFarland

Gone are the days of 30 minute child prophys for me. I am scheduled an hour or an hour and 15 minutes per patient, which includes children up to age 18. Oral hygiene education is a key component in affecting behavior change in our patients, so I am allotted that chair time to disclose every patient and work on proper brushing and flossing techniques. Neither my patient nor I have to wait around for a dentist exam. Based on my oral evaluations, I can refer patients for restorative care with partnering dentists.